05 April 1935
Birth of Prince Mario Alassio (Peter Grant)
Read our tribute to Mario Alassio
05 April 1970
Trouble and Strife On the Horizon
The members of the Professional Wrestlers Guild, formed in January to secure a £1 a match pay rise, joined the General and Municipal Workers Union. Albert Staples, national officer of the G.M.W.U. said that industrial action was a realistic possibility. The wrestlers were complaining that those who had joined the Professional Wrestlers Guild were being discriminated against and were receiving fewer bookings from Dale Martin Promotions. Eddie Capelli was quoted as saying his bookings for Dale Martin Promotions had dropped from sixteen to three since he joined the union. Guild Secretary Alan Garfield accused Dale Martin of “Wielding an economic whip.”
Staples said the G.M.W.U. would represent the wrestlers grievances:
- Recognition of the union and full negotiating rights.
- Minimum pay rates for wrestlers.
- Unfair distribution of work between wrestlers.
- Investigation of the use of foreign and northern wrestlers
- Clarification of the rights of wrestlers to take bookings from any promoter.
05 April 1978
A Champion Is Crowned
At the King George’s Hall in Blackburn Steve Grey defeated Bobby Ryan to win the British lightweight title that had been vacated by Dynamite Kid.
05 April 1988
Croydon’s Double Title Treat
Two title matches in Croydon. Kid McCoy defeated Zoltan Boscick by two falls to one in the eighth round to retain the British lightweight title. Marty Jones took falls in rounds six and eight to retain the World Mid Heavyweight title against Bernie Wright, who had taken the lead in round three.
06 April 1906
Birth of Harry Smith
Read our tribute to Harry Smith
06 April 1935
Birth of Peter Maivia
Read our tribute to Peter Maivia
06 April 1936
Not So Mean Meen
Reggie Meen had knocked out his opponent in two previous appearances at the Granby Halls in Leicester. That was as a boxer. No such success tonight when he was knocked out by Canadian Jim Burnett in a match that was advertised for the British Empire Heavyweight Championship. In supporting contests Jack McLauchlan defeated Tiger DeLisle two falls to nil. Al Hamilton beat Black Butcher Johnson by the same score. Norman the Butcher was knocked out by Harry Brooks, but not before he had bitten the referee’s finger and torn off both legs of his trousers at the knee. Van Flint beat Stan Stone by two submissions to a fall. Three thousands fans were present and promoters were Callaghan Promotions.
06 April 1940
Clark Outclasses Gregory
At the New St James Hall in Newcastle Douglas Clark defeated Francis Gregory by two falls to one and retain the British heavyweight title. Gregory had taken the lead in round two, with Clark equalising in the third and taking the deciding fall in round four.
06 April 1970
Dead Heat
Jim Breaks and Zoltan Boscik drew in a European lightweight title match in Leeds.
07 April 1925
Birth of Roger Trigeaud
Roger Trigeaud is in the A-Z
07 April 1931
Birth of Al Tarzo
Read our tribute to Al Tarzo
07 April 1933
Thanks But No Thanks
Hull Corporation Baths Committee voted to ban wrestling at the town’s baths.
07 April 1936
Birth of Bob Kirkwood
Read our tribute to Bob Kirkwood
07 April 1942
Birth of Jimmy Devlin
Read our tribute to Jimmy Devlin
07 April 1949
Dale the Champ
Jack Dale defended the British middleweight title against Jack Beaumont at the Civic Hall in Exeter.
07 April 1960
The Council Says No
Worthing Town Council turned down an application for wrestling to be staged in the Pier Pavilion.
07 April 1964
A Big Night Out
At the Queens in Grimsby, a Don Robinson Promotion, and Mike Marino retained the World Mid Heavyweight Title (BWF Independent) against Dai Sullivan.
07 April 1973
Makes A Change From Twisting Eddie Capelli’s Wrist, And The Weather Was Better
Leon Fortuna was over in Spain, but not for the wrestling. He was taking part in the Tournament of the Stars on the spectacular Andalucia Golf Course in Marbella, Spain. Winners were comedy actor Joe Lynch and Cecil Hegan, a clothing manager from Belfast. Each celebrity was partnered by a TV Times reader who had won their place. Leon Fortuna was partnered by J.Hamill, a TV Times reader from the Channel Islands. He was one of the celebrities that also included Coronation Street actor William Roache, radio disc jockey Ed “Stewpot” Stewart, newscaster Sandy Gall and comedian Stan Stennet
08 April 1953
Birth of Jackie Glitterboy Evans
Read our tribute to Jackie Glitterboy Evans
08 April 1964
Walsh Marches On
Norman Walsh defeated John Allan in Lincoln to retain the British Mid Heavyweight title.
08 April 1969
Breaks Puts the Breaks On Miquet
Jim Breaks beat Al Miquet at the Music Hall in Aberdeen to retain the European lightweight title.
08 April 1987
Danny Boy Too Wise for Wiseman
In Broxbourne Danny Collins defeated Ricky Wiseman by two falls to one to retain the British Welterweight title.
09 April 1925
Birth of H.W.Abbey (Billy Dale)
Henry Abbey, born 9th April, 1925, was the youngest of the Abbey brothers and known as Billy Dale. He left Dulwich College, having entered with a scholarship, in 1942 and worked momentarily for an insurance company before joining the Royal Navy. In 1950 he joined his brothers and Les Martin in Dale Martin Promotions. He remained a Director of Dale Martin Promotions until 1971 when it was taken over by the William Hill Organisation. He then became a Director, later Deputy Managing Director of William Hill until he retired in 1988. Henry Abbey (Billy Dale) died on 21st October, 2013.
09 April 1931
Glasgow Fails to Get A Grip.
Atholl Oakeley and Henry Irslinger wrestled each other in Glasgow’s first All-In wrestling contest. Newspapers reported that although there had been great advance interest in the event the spectators soon lost interest and many left before the end of the contest. The report did not state the result of the match; maybe the reporter was part of the stampede for the door!
09 April 1934
Birth of Les Thornton
Read our tribute to Les Thornton
09 April 1934
Poor Show!
Wrestling was cancelled at the National Sporting Club in Middlesbrough due to poor ticket sales.
09 April 1956
Curtain Goes Up at Shoreditch Town Hall
Dale Martin Promotions presented their first wrestling tournament at Shoreditch Town Hall
09 April 1957
Budget Cheer
Chancellor Peter Thorneycroft removed the entertainment tax from sport. This opened opportunities for numerous independent promoters to begin staging their own shows.
09 April 1960
Top Mann
Tommy Mann retained the British middleweight title against Mick McManus at the Barracks in Grantham.
09 April 1968
Colbeck Has Something To Smile About (But Probably Didn’t)
Alan Colbeck retained the European welterweight title against challenger Jim Breaks at the Music Hall in Aberdeen.
09 April 1970
Gold for Goldbelt
Brian Maxine retained the British welterweight title against Alan Sarjeant in Bristol.
09 April 1970
So Butch.
Reg Trood announced that he intended to apply to the Council of the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea for a licence to carry on as an Employment Agency for persons in the entertainment industry at 481 Kings Road, London S.W.3. The agency was to be known as Butch Agency and would be authorised agents for the Guild of Professional Wrestlers. Any objections to the application were to be made to the Medical Officer of Health and Welfare Department by 23rd April.
09 April 1973
Still Golden After All Those Years
At the Nottingham Ice Rink Mike Marino retained the British Mid Heavyweight title against challenger Tony Charles. In one of the Morrell & Beresford Ice Rink spectaculars other matches were Mick McManus v Masambula, Les Kellett v Steve Logan, George Kidd v Jim Breaks and a tag match, Thunder Cloud and White Cloud v The Hells Angels.
09 April 1982
Is Wrestling Out For the Count
Cleethorpes Pier Pavilion had hosted wrestling for more than thirty years. Best Wryton Promotions were informed that the Pier was to be sold oand their booking for 18th April was to be their last one. Any future bookings were subject to agreement with the new owners.
10 April 1933
A Taster for Selby.
The good people of Selby in Yorkshire had their first taste of All In Wrestling, but only a small taste. Jack Pye beat Jack Conroy with a submission in the second round. The remainder of the programme consisted of boxing matches.
10 April 1953
Tony Lawrence Is Champion
At the St Mungo Halls in Glasgow Tony Lawrence defeated Alan Colbeck in a match advertised for the British Lord Mountevans Welterweight title.
10 April 1957
Not Such a Nice One, Cyril
Tommy Mann defeated Cyril Knowles in Scunthorpe, a return contest for the World Middleweight title held by Mann.
10 April 1964
Marino Beats American
The village of Illogan is two miles north west of Redruth in Cornwall. At the Flamingo Ballroom Mike Marino retained the World Mid Heavyweight title against the American Eddy Williams.
10 April 1973
Hellcat Hell
A bottle thrown into the crowd at Milngavie Town Hall resulted in wrestler Hellcat Haggerty being charged with breach of the peace.
10 April 1981
A Win for Quinn
John Quinn successfully defended the All Star (Independent) World Heavyweight title against Tony St Clair at Liverpool Stadium.
10 April 1988
Seconds Please, And We Don’t Mean Seconds Out
It wasn’t just a case of seconds, but thirds too at the White Hart Hotel in Todmorden. The occasion was am eating competition that raised £83 for the Todmorden under 16s football club. Wrestler Black Jack Mulligan polished off three large mixed grills in 29 minutes to win the competition.
11 April 1944
Birth of Alan Butts
Alan Butts is in the A-Z
11 April 1962
King Billy
Billy Joyce beat Albert Wall in Lincoln to retain the British heavyweight title.
11 April 1970
Dempsey on The Other Side
Veteran welterweight and erstwhile Joint Promotions champion Jack Dempsey was now working for the independents and still proclaiming his British title credentials. He retained his title, recognised by independent promoters, against Butcher Goodman at the Drill Hall in Lincoln.
11 April 1973
Not Much Love and Peace In Glastonbury
The town council of Glastonbury were not happy. They were complaining of what they called “indiscriminate posting” of misleading wrestling posters advertising wrestlers that would not appear and made the town look tatty. One of those named was Les Kellett, contracted to Joint Promotions at that time was never booked to appear. The poster stated that well known names had been “invited to appear.” Reality was that the event took place with only four wrestlers playing various roles. The council said they had been unable to find who the promoters were, but the hall fees of £14 had been paid.
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